Automatic spray device

ABSTRACT

1,158,268. Spray-producers. UNION CARBIDE CORP. 21 Oct., 1966 [21 Oct., 1965], No. 47226/66. Heading B2F. A device suitable for intermittently spraying a liquid or a liquid/solid mixture 28 from a container 26 comprises a propellant container 12, a valve mechanism .14 adapted to adjustably control the flow of propellant from its container through an aperture 36 into a chamber 18, and a diaphragm 20 which supports the valve spindle 22 of a valve which normally closes a channel 24 but which is retracted when the pressure in the chamber builds up to a suitable value so as to provide communication between the chamber and the channel, Fig. 2 (not shown). Propellant admitted to the channel 24 is discharged through an orifice 42 and entrains liquid &amp;c. up a riser tube 30. The propellant is preferably a liquefied gas such as a fluorinated hydrocarbon. The valve mechanism 14, Fig. 3 (not shown) includes a curved brass disc (34) mounted between an inner support member (38) and a housing member (16). Screw means are provided to reduce the distance between the top of the member (38) and the housing (16) so as to compress the disc (34) and adjust the ratio of flow of the propellant past the disc and through the aperture 36. If the disc is part spherical a groove or slot may be formed in its periphery. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 (not shown) the spray material (liquid) and the propellant are stored in a common container and a needle valve (76) mounted on a diaphragm (76) cooperates with a resilient seating (78) to control the discharge outlet.

1967 R. CARMICHAEL ETAL 3,305,134

AUTOMATIC SPRAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 INVENTORS. ROBERT CARMICHAEL GODFREY H. KLUN 21, 1967 R. CARMICHAEL ETAL 3,305,134

Filed 001;. 21., 1965 PI /A/ /A/A Filed Oct. 21, 1965 Feb. 21, 1967 v R. CARMICHAEL ETAL 3,305,134

AUTOMATIC SPRAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. ROBERT CARMICHAEL GODFREY H. KLUN A Ira-R1515? United States Patent 3,305,134 AUTOMATIC SPRAY DEVICE Robert Carmichael and Godfrey H. Klun, Parma, Ohio, assignors to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,929 6 Claims. (Cl. 22270) This invention relates to a spray device and more particularly to a device which will automatically and peri odically dispense a compressed fluid.

Spray devices have been employed in a wide variety of commercial and non-commercial applications. Deodorizers, Vaporizers, sanitizers, aromatizers etc. are all essentially spray devices of one type or another. Unfortunately, many of these devices must be manually or electrically operated. Manually operated spray devices are disadvantageous because they cannot be used in an application which requires continuous operation. Electrically operated spray devices offer automatic operation but are generally expensive and bulky.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an automatic spray device which does not depend on an electrical power source for its operation and which is inexpensive, compact, and portable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic spray device wherein the frequency of the dispensing cycle may be readily adjusted.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial sectional view of one embodirnent of a spray device typical of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of part of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the operation of the diaphragm valve of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a novel micro-valve which is employed in the spray device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 4a are enlarged cross-sectional views of the several operative positions of the micro-valve of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the spray device of the invention.

Broadly stated, the device of the invention which is preferably used in conjunction with a pressure pack or aerosol container, comprises a regulator valve mechanism connected to the pressure pack for regulating the exit fiow of the propellant contained in the pressure pack, and diaphragm type valve means residing in a chamber wherein said propellant from said pressure pack accumulates and provides a proper pressure for opening the diaphragm valve.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device is constructed so that a separate container which confines the medium to be dispensed may be attached to it. In this embodiment, the medium is combined with the propellant just prior to being propelled into the atmosphere. In another embodiment, the medium to be dispensed is confined with the propellant in the pressure pack and is released from the pack with the propellant.

In operation, the propellant flows from the pressure pack through the regulating valve and into the chamber. As the quantity of the propellant in the chamber increases, the pressure also increases. At some predetermined pressure, the diaphragm valve within the chamber is snapped open and the propellant suddenly egresses from the chamber and into the atmosphere. The decrease in pressure within the chamber as a result of this action causes the diaphragm valve therein to return to its original closed position. The cycle is then automatically repeated. If

3,305,134 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 a separate container is employed to house the medium to be dispensed, means are provided whereby the passing propellant stream entrains a suitable quantity of the medium and carries it into the atmosphere.

The pressure pack which is attached to the device of the invention employs a liquefied gas contained under its own vapor pressure as the propellant force and is advantageous for many reasons. For example, a large quanity of propellant gas may be contained in a small container thereby rendering the spray device of the invention highly portable. Also, the pressure available for dispensing the medium remains fairly constant as long as there is any liquefied gas present as opposed to the pressure drop experienced when using air or gaseous carbon dioxide under pressure. Examples of liquefied gases that may be used in the practice of the invention are fluorinated hydrocarbons, butane, isobutane and medium thereof. The mixture which is to be dispensed may be any desired fluid, or a fluid combined with a particulate solid. A solid may not be used however, if the medium to be dispensed is to be mixed with the propellant in the pressure pack.

The invention will be more readily understood by referring to the drawings and particularly FIGURE 1 which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In FIGURE 1, the spray device 10 includes a pressure pack 12 which is connected to a regulator valve mechanism designated generally by the numeral 14 having a channel 32 therein, and further includes a structural member 16 having an entrance aperture 36, a chamber 18, a diaphragm 20, a valve stem 22 attached to the diaphragm 20 and a channel 24 which has an inlet opening 40. Positioned between the structural member 16 and the housing 38 of the regulator valve mechanism 14- is a valve disc 34. A container 26 having a vent 27, confines the medium 28 to be dispensed and contains a tubular means 30 for delivering the medium to the venturi junction 44, and is detachably secured to the structural member 16. An exit orifice 42 in the structural member 16 is suitably positioned in proximity to the venturi junction 44.

The operation of the spray device 10 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is essentially as hereinbefore described. The propellant eg-resses from the pressure pack 12 and travels through the channel 32 of the regulator valve mechanism 14. At the upper end of the channel 32, the valve disc 34- regulates the flow of the propellant to the entrance aperture 36 and the chamber 18. When pressure in the chamber 18 reaches a suitable value, the diaphragm 20 snaps into its alternate position (illustrated in FIGURE 2). Since the valve stem 22 is attached to the diaphragm 20, a change in the position of the diaphragm 20 necessarily causes a change in the position of the valve stem 22. The inlet opening 40 of the channel 24 is thereby no longer contacted and closed by the valve stem 22 and the propellant quickly escapes into the channel 24 and egresses from the structural member 16 at the exit orifice 42. After passing through the channel 24 the propellant combines with the medium 28 at the venturi junction 44. The medium 28 is present at the junction 44 by virtue of the venturi action of the propellant stream and the tube 30. After the propellant and medium are dispensed into the atmosphere, the pressure in the chamber 18 and on the diaphragm 20 falls to some value much below its previous level and the diaphragm 2i snaps back into its first position, thereby causing valve stem 22 to completely close the opening 40 in the channel 24 and prevent further escape of the propellant. A seat 46 may be provided for the valve stem 22 thereby accomplishing an effective seal. The cycle is then automatically repeated.

A further illustration of the operation of the diaphragm valve is shown in FIGURE 2. As there shown,

the diaphragm 20 is in the alternate position and the seat 64 is no longer contacted and closed by the valve stem 22 and the propellant may now escape from the chamber 18. As indicated above, this position is accomplished after the pressure in the chamber 18 achieves a particular level.

In order that the spray device of the invention function effectively, there must be a complete seal around the opening 40 during the time of pressure buildup in the chamber 18 so that the propellant does not escape into the channel 24. One means which may be employed to accomplish this is to provide a cup shaped recess 23 defined by the valve stem 22. Preferably, the valve stem 22 is composed of an elastic material such as neoprene, so that the valve stem 22 in conjunction with the cup shaped recess 23 will then completely cover and close the opening 40 by resting on the seat 46 as illustrated :at 25 in FIGURE 1, and in this manner an effective seal is accomplished. It should be noted that the valve stem 22 slides down the seat 46 as the pressure builds up in the chamber 18 maintaining a seal until the diaphragm 20 snaps to its alternate position. The sliding motion en- :ables an instantaneous exposure of the opening 40 to occur when the pressure reaches the critical value.

For optimum performance, the valve mechanism 14 should be able to adjust the propellant flow rate to about 0.01 cubic feet per hour STP with a pressure drop of about 1 atmosphere across the valve. Normal conventional needle valves and other micro flow valves yield flow rates from to 100 times larger than the rate which is herein required. Accordingly, the novel valve mechanism 14 which is capable of satisfying the above-mentioned flow rate requirement is employed in the spray device of the invention. This valve mechanism is illustrated in greater detail in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the valve mechanism 14 comprises a housing 38 having a channel 32, a curved valve disc 34, an outer body member, which is illustrated as structural member 16, having an aperture 36, and seal gaskets 48, 50. An angle edge 52 may be supplied to the valve mechanism 14 as one means of permitting the propellant to efiectively escape from the pressure pack 12.

In operation, the propellant from the pressure pack 12 flows through the channel 32 over the valve disc 34 and into the entrance aperture 36. The flow rate of the propellant is determined by the change in configuration of the valve disc 34 due to the mechanical compression on the disc as shall be hereinafter described in greater detail. A convenient means of effecting this compression is to provide the structural member 16 and the pressure pack'12 with threads 53 and 55 respectively. A suitably threaded collar 57, engaging the threaded portions of the structural member 16 and pressure pack 12 simultaneous- 1y, provides a proper mechanical connection so that a relative positioning of the structural member 1 6 and pressure pack 12 will impart a compressive force of the valve disc 34. In this manner, the desired compression on the disc 34 may be controlled to a fine degree provided that the engaging threads are carefully designed and fitted.

The valve disc 34 is preferably curved or cylindrical in shape. The desired shape is obtained by forming a flat piece into a cylindrical disc. The fiat starting piece may be circular, square, rectangular or any suitable shape. Under normal operating conditions, a portion of the valve disc 34 covers the center part of the opening in the entrance aperture 36. The propellant flows past the disc 34 at several points, for example, 54, 56 in FIGURE 4. A spherical disc may be satisfactorily employed if the orifice is displaced from the center portion thereof and if at least one groove or slot is cut through the disc at its periphery.

The disc may such as extra hard brass.

be composed of any suitable material A disc having a radius of curvature of A1 inchhas been successfully employed in combination with an aperture diameter of & inch.

FTGURE 4 illustrates the disc 34 in a compressed condition. The outer body member, which in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 is the structural member 16, and the housing 38 of the valve mechanism 14 cooperate to exert a pressure on the disc 34 which is sufiicient to nearly flatten the disc. Under this pressure, the flow path is narrow so that only a small stream of propellant can flow through the openings 54, 56 into the aperture 36 and therefore the how rate is small. If a greater flow rate (for more rapid cycling) is desired, the valve mechanism housing 38 and the structural member 16 are spaced further apart, resulting in greater openings at 54, 56. FIG- URE 4a illustrates this mode of operation. The curvature of disc 34 is exaggerated in FIGURE 4 for illustrative purposes since the disc is nearly flattened by the compression when extremely low flow rates are desired. The arrows in FIGURE 4a illustrate the typical flow path of the propellant through the valve mechanism 14.

The frequency of the dispensing cycle is dependent upon the pressure rise and fall in the chamber 18. This cycle frequency is determined by the inlet flow rate of the propellant, the pressure required to snap the diaphragm 20, and the volume of the chamber 18.

The following example is presented to illustrate one combination of components which was employed in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 to obtain a suitable time period for the rise and fall of the pressure in the chamber 18. Reference numerals in the example are those illustrated in the drawings.

The cup-shaped chamber 18 was characterized by a maximum inside diameter of 1 inch at the diaphragm. The portion of the structural member 16 which penetrates the chamber (illustrated by the reentrant portion 47 in FIGURE 1) measured /3 inch in outside diameter and inch long. The channel 24 and the opening 40 were provided with an inside diameter of 5 inch. The exit orifice 42 in the channel 24 was 0.040 inch diameter. The diaphragm 20 was constructed of extra hard brass material having a thickness of 0.008 inch and a spherical radius of 3% inches. The valve stem 22 was made of neoprene and was characterized by an unexpanded outside diameter of inch.

This combination of the components resulted in an adjustment of the dispensing cycle of from 0 to 700 cycles per hour. Obviously, the shape and dimensions of the components may be somewhat modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Another embodiment of the spray device of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 5. In this embodiment, the propellant and the medium to be dispensed are confined together within the pressure pack.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, a housing 58 having a chamber 60 therein is mechanically connected to the regulator valve mechanism 62 and to the valve disc 64 which forms a part of the regulator valve mechanism 62. The regulator valve mechanism 62 also includes the member 63 having a channel 65 therein and seal gaskets 67, 69.

-Angled edge 68 of valve mechanism 62 provides a means whereby the propellant from the pressure pack 66 can effectively escape. The housing 58 has an exit orifice 70 and an entrance aperture 72. Residing within the chamber 60 and secured to the housing 58 is a diaphragm 74. Attached to the diaphragm 74 is a rod 76 which closes the orifice 70. Soft resilient seating means 78 accomplish an effective seal at the orifice 70.

In operation, the propellant and medium to be dispensed together travel through the channel 65 in the regulator valve mechanism 62, over the valve disc 64, through the aperture 72 and into the chamber 60. When a sufficient quantity has accumulated in the chamber 60, the pressure within the chamber 60 exerts a force upon the diaphragm 74 sufficient to cause it to snap back into its second position in the same manner as illustrated in FIG- URE 2. The movement of the diaphragm 74 causes the rod 76 to be drawn away from the seating means 78 thereby permitting the propellant and the medium to escape into the atmosphere. Because of the loss of pressure in the chamber 60 by this action, the diaphragm 74 returns to its initial position causing the rod 76 and the sealing means to once again close the orifice 70. The cycle is then automatically repeated.

The flow rate of the propellant and the medium to be dispensed into the chamber 60 may be controlled by the change in configuration of the valve disc 64 in the same manner as has been hereinbefore described and illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 4a by including means (such as engaging threads) whereby a relative change in position of the housing 58 and the member 63 is effected. If a non-adjustable cycle frequency is desired, the mechanical connection between the housing 58 and the regulator valve mechanism 62 can be a press fit relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

With slight modifications the spray device of the invention may be employed in a number of useful devices. Some devices which are immediately apparent are: (a) an intermittent sound source such as a foghorn, (b) a chlorinator for drinking water, (c) a flame colorant, (d) an intermittent mechanical power source as for example, an oscillating motion from gas pressure or propelled gases on a time basis, (e) a time delay switch, (f) a pressure regulator in a closed system controlling the output pressure of a compressed gas, (g) a combustible gas which could feed a flame. Any or all of these devices may be developed by utilizing the principles of this invention.

From the above, it will be appreciated that a novel spray device which is inexpensive, compact, portable, and automatic is accomplished without the need of an electrical power source. Furthermore, this spray device is capable of providing a desirable dispensing cycle which is readily regulated at the operators option.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic spray device for use with a pressure pack containing a propellant comprising, in combination: a body member defining a chamber therein and having an entrance aperture and an exit orifice; a first valve mechanism connected to said pressure pack and defining a channel in communication between said pressure pack and said entrance aperture, said first valve mechanism comprising a curved disc positioned within said channel and over said entrance aperture and being adjustable so as to completely or partially cover said orifice for regulating the flow of propellant from said pressure pack to said chamber; means for adjusting said first valve mechanism in order to permit a given rate of propellant to flow into said chamber; a diaphragm mounted within said chamber and adapted to move from one position to another in response to the build-up of a predetermined pressure within said chamber; and a second valve means connected to said diaphragm and being in direct communication with said exit orifice, said second valve means closing said orifice but being adapted in conjunction with the movement of said diaphragm to open said orifice when said predetermined pressure is reached within said chamber.

2. The automatic spray device of claim 1 wherein a medium to be dispensed is confined within a container having an outlet means so connected to said device such that said medium is dispensed by the venturi action of said propellant passing through said exit orifice.

3. The automatic spray device of claim 1 wherein a medium to be dispensed is contained in said pressure pack with said propellant.

4. The automatic spray device of claim 1 wherein said second valve means is a rigid rod connected to said diaphragm and in direct communication with said exit orifice, said exit orifice having resilient sealing means attached thereto and in contact with said rigid rod.

5. The automatic spray device of claim 1 wherein said second valve means is a resilient valve stem connected to said diaphragm and in direct communication with said exit orifice.

6. An automatic spray device for use with a pressure pack containing a propellant comprising, in-combination: a body member defining a chamber therein and having an entrance aperture and an exit orifice; a firs-t valve mechanism connected to said pressure pack and being in communication with said entrance aperture for regulating the flow of propellant from said pressure pack and into said chamber; means for adjusting said first valve mechanism in order to permit a given rate of propellant to flow into said chamber; a diaphragm mounted within said chamber and adapted to move from one position to another in response to the build-up of a predetermined pressure within said chamber; and a second valve means connected to said diaphragm and being in direct communication with said exit orifice, said second valve means closing said orifice but being adapted in conjunction with the movement of said diaphragm to open said orifice when said predetermined pressure is reached within said chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 653,516 7/ 1900 Kleinfeldt 222399 906,285 12/1908 Von Post 137-62414 X 1,238,271 8/1917 Crovo 222399 X 2,571,433 10/1951 Fine et al. 222-399 X 2,659,518 11/ 1953 Donnelly 222-449 2,888,208 5/1959 Fedit 239308 2,965,117 12/1960 Gallacher 137624.l4 X 3,044,713 7/1962 Ellis 239-308 X 3,085,752 4/1963 Drell 239308 3,219,236 11/1965 Radcliffe 222-52 3,231,150 1/1966 Holm et al 222518 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

6. AN AUTOMATIC SPRAY DEVICE FOR USE WITH A PRESSURE PACK CONTAINING A PROPELLANT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A BODY MEMBER DEFINING A CHAMBER THEREIN AND HAVING AN ENTRANCE APERTURE AND AN EXIT ORIFICE; A FIRST VALVE MECHANISM CONNECTED TO SAID PRESSURE PACK AND BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID ENTRANCE APERTURE FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF PROPELLANT FROM SAID PRESSURE PACK AND INTO SAID CHAMBER; MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID FIRST VALVE MECHANISM IN ORDER TO PERMIT A GIVEN RATE OF PROPELLANT TO FLOW INTO SAID CHAMBER; A DIAPHRAGM MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER 